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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13219	A short survey or history of the kingdome of Sueden Containing a briefe description of all the provinces of his whole dominion: as also the riches of his kingdome, the antiquity, nature, and manners of that nation; with the government of his realme, might, and power of this great King, as well by sea as by land; his great officers, his customes and revenves of the Crowne. With a genealogy and pedegree of the kings of Sueden, of those especially who have reigned these last five hundred yeers, with some of their most memorable acts and deeds, with their alliance and issue or off-spring. Something also more particularly concerning that illustrious invincible great Gustavus Adolphus the II. and of his wars with the Russian, Denmarke and Poland: as also of his most memorable acts since his comming to the crowne, as well before, as since his entring into Germany, untill this present yeere 1632.; Suecia, sive de Suecorum Regis dominiis. English. Abridgments	Bure, Anders, 1571-1646.; Hildebrandt, Andreas, d. 1637. Genealogia regum Sueciae. English.; L. S., Sir, fl. 1632.; Story, John, fl. 1632.	1632 (1632)	STC 23518; ESTC S120735	49,965	108

and to baptize their children c. But Charles the 9. and father to this famous and great Gustavus now raigning built in severall places of this country certaine chappells and churches for the exercise of Religion This people is ninble active and very good souldiers which if envy it selfe should deny yet that memorable battell fought neer Leipzig will witnes to the worlds end some of the hils of this country yeeld precious stones viz. Diamonds Topazes and Amethists At this day these Laplanders are subject to 3. Kings of Sweden Denmark and the great Duke of Russia The greatest the best part of this country viz. all the South mediterranian part belongs to the King of Sweden a very huge vast countrey extending from the 69. to the 71. degree of northerly latitude being above 400. miles in length and above 360. in breadth This country is diuided into 5. several territoties or jurisdictions called Lapmarchia to wit Vmalapmarck Pitalapmarck Tornlapmarek Kimilapmarck whose inhabitants pay tribute to none but to the King rf Sweden To Norway now under the danish King belongeth that tract running along long the sea-coast called Finmarchia and the inhabitants Siofuni or maritime inhabitants living upon fish onely The rest belongs to the Russian Prince from the castle of Vardhus to the mouth of the milbrie sea in the Swedish tongue called Trennes in the Laplanders language Prihinienni and in the Russian speech Tarchanavolech even at this day Now next after the country of Sweden followes in order Gothia or Gothland as if one should say a good land being also subect to the Crowne of Sweden divided from the same by a great wood only This is the ancient country and naturall soile of so many warlike people which in former ages have made their names famous to future generations which honour many other nations would willingly assume unto themselves the which subject for brevities sake I must here passe This countrey is divided into two parts East and West Gothland To West Gothland belong these Provinces following Vestrogothia Dalia and Vermelandia vnto which some joyne Hallandia Vestrogothia as it is somewhat inferiour to the most fruitfull parts of Sweden regard of corne so doth it againe in good pastures for cattle exceed them wherein consists their chiefe riches as the others in their tillage increase of corn It is also watered with many rivers yielding great store of fish besides divers Citties and Townes The Citties are Gotheburgum a great and rich staple for trafficke Slara an Episcopall Sea Mariesladum and Lidecopia The townes thereof Fabropia Sbredni Hin Bogesund Beretta and Lindosia the old Dalia is a mountainous countrey in most places hath many fishie rivers and lakes and pasture for cattell in no small abundance in so much that there are farre greater oxen found in that countrey then in other places Vermelandia among all the Gothish Provinces best inhabited and colonies first carried thither by Olaus Trekelius It is a hilly and wood-land countrey yet not unfurnished of yron mynes and one of copper reasonable rich but lately found aut In it is one citty called Carolostadium built by Charles the 9. in a place before called Tingualla Hallandia a little countrey adjoyning thereto because belonging to the King of Denmarke I there of set purpose passe by The Provinces of East Gothland are Ostrogothia Smalandia and Oelandia with which in former times were also reckoned Gotlandia Scania and Bleckingia Ostrogothia is for the most part a plaine champian countrey and so fruitfull that it exceedeth many other Provinces of Sweden and by some thought not to equall onely but even to exceede Vpland it selfe the principall Province of the whole Swedish dominion It is exceeding pleasant and very well furnished with many fishie rivers abundance of wild beasts and wild fowle and finally whatsoever is useful for mans sustnance except wine and salt Neither is it unfurnished of mynes in the mountanous parts of Godegard Hellestaberg and Vongaberg In it is seated the City Vadstenan adorned with a faire castle and an Abbey dedicate to Saint Brigeta There is besides it Scheningia sometimes of great fame and note but now reduced to the forme of a Towne Lanicopia an Episcopall Sea Norcopia and Sudercopia two famous staples or Townes for trafficke Smalandia a large country above 300. miles in compasse and is for the most part full of great woods and yet for good pastures nothing inferiour to many of the neighbour countries insomuch that they send many very great fed cattle into Denmarke which are from thence yeerely in great abundance sent into all high Germany and the lowcountries In it are also great store of great rivers lakes wel stored with abundance of excellent good fish In that part called Tinstia there are copper mines newly found out In Taberg there are good steele mynes and besides out of their lakes they gather a certaine rude matter which with very small labour is made very good yron This countrey is divided into divers parts the principall whereof are Tieherad Verandia Tinstia as also Finherdia and Mantingia famous for the Longobards expedition Cities for the largenesse of the countrey it hath not many the chiefe are Calmarnia levecopia Vexio an Episcopall Sea Elresio and Vestervile Olandia is a rich and fruitfull Iland abounding in many rich commodities But because this Iland as likewise Hallandia and Bleckingia are at this present under the obedience of the Danish King I will here passe by it And yet shall it not be out of purpose to take notice that these Ilands have beene the cause of great quarrells and controversies betwixt these two neighbouring Princes Sweden and Denmark and no lesse cotnrouersie hath it caused among Writers some pretending a right some a long prescription of time to corroborate the Title of their Prince whose right they tooke upon them to maintaine Next in order followes Finland which some thinke so to be called in comparison of Sweden as though it did in fruitfulnesse farre exceed it who are foulely deceived for it is more probable that it was first called Fiendland by reason of the great hostility those Finlanders exercised against this nation so long as they were commanded by a King of their owne This countrey abounds in corne pastures fish and fowle and finally in such things as are most necessary for the life of man this people is very laborious and able to endure hardship Of old they were esteemed the mildest among all those Scanzian people howbeit at this day they be somewhat harsher and their valour in warre was well witnessed in this last memorable battle fought neere Leipsig in Misnia They have a peculiar language of their owne in the which are some singularities to be observed namely that some letters they cannot pronounce as B D G and that they want the letter F

A SHORT Survey or History of THE KINGDOME OF SVEDEN Containing A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE PROVINCES OF his whole Dominion As also the riches of his Kingdome the antiquity nature and manners of that Nation With the Government of his Realme Might and Power of this great King as well by Sea as by Land his great Officers his Customes and Revenves of the Crowne With a Genealogy and Pedegree of the Kings of SVEDEN of those especially who have reigned these last five hundred yeers with some of their most memorable Acts and Deeds with their Alliance and Issue or Off spring Something also more particularly concerning that Illustrious invincible Great GVSTAVUS ADOLPHVS the II. and of his Wars with the Russian Denmarke and Poland As also of his most Memorable Acts since his comming to the Crowne as well before as since his entring into Germany untill this present yeere 1632. LONDON Printed for Michael Sparke and are to be sold by Iames Boler at the Marigold in Pavls-Church-yard 1632. The Contents or principall heads handled in this whole Discourse 1 OF the division of all these Northerne Countries and antiquity of the kingdome of Sweden together with the large extent of this dominion and the commodities this kingdome affords 2 A more particular survey of the kingdome of Sweden with a short description of the particular parts or Provinces thereof and the benefit they yeeld to the king and subiect 3 Of the nature manners and customes of the Swedish or Suetians and into how many rankes or degrees the people are divided where the Clergie is also comprehended 4 Of the politicke and civill government of the kingdome of Sweden Of their five great Colledges or courts of Iustice and some others also Of the chiefe great officers of the kingdome Of the might and power of the king of Sweden both by sea and land of his horse and foot forces and great store of brasse ordnance Of the great number of warre-ships and other ships or seruice and the great number of marrriners wherewith this kingdome is for all occasions furnished 6 Of customes and tributes or subsi dies ordinary and extraordinary belonging to the king of Sweden 7 A catalogue of some kings of Sweden together with some of their most memorable acts 8 A more particular survey of the last kings of this countrey of these last 500 yeares wi●h some other principall acts alliance issue or off-spring 9 Of great Gustavus Adolphus this present king now reigning with his most memorable Acts both before and after his entering into Germany THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOME OF SWEDEN I. OVr moderne Geographers call all those Northern countries of Europe declining towards the North the Northern world This whole countrey say they is divided into two parts Scania and Dania Scandia or Scandinania by Pliny called an Iland of unknowne greatnesse hems in begirts about all the northermost part of Europe This is a large and vast Region extending it selfe from the 55. to the 72. degree of northerly latitude above 1000. English miles and from the 25. to the 65. degree of longitude or 2400 of our miles On the south side it borders on Germany and Denmarke on the North and West on the Ocean Sea and on the East on Russia The parts of this countrey lying neerest to the South where the Pole is not elevated above 60 degrees is indifferent temperat the Region lying betwixt the 60. degree and the arctick circle are not so temperate howbeit the intemperature of the ayre is well regulated with the fertility of the soyle in such places especially as are not covered over with woods or rocks in the south easterne parts principally But the extreme or most northern parts lying betwixt the arcticl circle and the pole arctick enjoy neither a temporate ayre nor yet a fruitful soile and since by reason of the faint heat of the Sun corne could not there well ripen therefore the wise Creator of all things hath furnished these countries with great variety of wild beasts and divers rivers lakes gulfes furnished with variety of wholesome fishes for the sustaining of the inhabitants lives It would seem that this Scandia was in former times far more populous then it is at this time witnesse these frequent transmigrations and as it were inundations of the Scanzian people into othcr remote regions of the world when as partly by reason of the multitude and naturall fecundity or fruitfulnes of that people partly by reason of dearth of corn partly by their inclination to war and avoyding Idlenes like Bees they sought out new hives for themselves and their children and those great heapes of stones even at this day in the most desarts woods to be seen in former times no doubt gathered together to cleanse the high waies do undoubtedly evidence unto us that in former times all those places have bin peopled and therefore not without great reason did the ancient writers call this country a shop of people officinam gentiū populorū que vaginam from hence have we not only the Normans Suevians Vandals divers other nations but the Westorgoths and ostrogoths also who after many peregrinations thorow many Provinces and Kingdomes whom they wearied out with their wars at length they setled themselves in Spain where even at this day they beare rule This Scandia or Scādinavia comprehends under it 2 northern kingdomes Sweden Norway The kingdoms of Sweden as witnesse the Scanzian histories is more ancient then any of the others from whose Kings hath the ancient families of the Kings of Denmark Norway are desceneded for Dan first King of Denmark from whence this country was called Dania or Danmarchia was the sonne of Humelus the 16 King of Sweden and the Norvegians in their Chronicle before ever they come to their owne reckon vp 25 Kings of Sweden of whom is descended Hwithen by the mother descended of one soluon a certaine Prince of Norway succeeded him in his dominion and haviuing not a little inlarged the same left it to his lawfull heires and successros from whom Haraldus Harsagher being lineally descended in the fourth degree having vanquished and expelled all the other petty Kings did there first of all establish an absolute Monarchy as witnesseth the ancient Chronicle of Norway written by Master Iohn Martinus Slangerupensis and published in Denmarke Anno. 1595. Of this kingdome of Sweden I purpose now to say some thing as I finde it written in the Swedish History howbeit as briefely at I can and speaking of the countrey I shall say something of the several Provinces and Territories belonging to this Crowne the commodities and riches they yeeld both to King and Subject as also concerning the politicke government together with divers customes of this countrey In the next place something shall be said of the might and power of this great King both by Sea and Land his chiefe Officers of State c. and then come wee to

the Kings of that countrey both ancient and of latter times with some of their chiefe acts and the latter Kings alliances In the last place is something more particularly said concerning this great Gustavus Adolphus now raigning and his chiefe acts both before and since his expedition into Germany briefly handled The King of Sweden or Swethland call it as you list although untill now of late yeeres not so much taken notice of in these parts of the world as many other Princes and Potentates yet may it well appeare that hee is on meane Prince nor of small power His chiefe countrey and from which he takes his chiefe denomination is called by some Sueonia and the people from thence Sueones as also and with us most frequently Suevia and the people Swevi now there is in high Germany another countrey sounding somewhat like it called Suevia the people Suevi and in high Dutch Swaben bordering on Bavaria being a colonie in former times come out of this countrey of Sweden of whom my purpose is not here to speake This potent King then hath under his dominion not onely this country of Sweden properly so called but also Gothland Flintland and a great part of Lapland besides some Territories in the dominion of the great Duke or Knez of Russia or Muscovia as hereafter shall appeare This countrey is a very fruitfull soyle a land flowing with milke and honey and yeelding come in great abundance besides the great abundance of mettalls digged out of the bowells of the earth and the excellency of the pastures of this land may from hence appeare that some countrey people of Holland removing their habitation into Sweden affimed that they made as much butter of 60. measures of milke there as they did in Holland of a hundred the like measures This pleasant countrey is replenished with innumerable lakes furnished with most daint y fishes out of these same lakes do run and Issue out many pleasant and profitable rivers This country is in the South parts more plain even but towards the North and VVst more mountainous not without great store of woods very usefull for the fining of those mettals in so great abundance digg'd out of many of those mountaines The maritane pares not of Swethland onley but of Finland also are for the most part environed with high and steepe rocky hils Ilands many of them being scarce covered with greene grasse and this is the cause why it is so hard and difficult a matter for strangers without some skilfull Pilot of the naturall inhabitans to saile neere their shore and strangers at their first approaching wonder that such a country should afford the inhabitants meanes to sustaine life until such time as they are better acquainted with the inner parts of the countrey and this land hath likewise commerce with the I le of Brittaine Denmarke Norway Poland Russia and such other Notherne Regions beyond the 50 or 51 degrees of Northerly latitude that it bringeth forth none of that noble liquor of the grape which is notwithstanding in great abundance brought from other countries and besides they are well furnished with good ale and beere for their ordinary drinke 2. The kingdome of Sweden is divided into Sweden Gothland Finland Ingria and Esthionia Sweden or Swethland called Suecia or Sucovia into Sueovia properly so called and the Northlands Nordlandias Of Sueovia properly so called are these parts or Provinces following Vplandia Vestmania Dalecharlia Nevira and Suedermania This country Vplandia hath most cōmmonly bin graced with the pre-eminence above the rest and where the King hath most commonly kept his Court. This country is very well furnished with plenty of very good corne the which is liberally imparted to these daily diggers of mettalls upon the mountaines It is not destitute of good mines of yron and leed especially and in some places of silver also although not very much It is againe divided into three folk-lands as they call them that is shires or Provinces of three people and these againe sub-divided into smaller parts much answerable to our division of hundred and which name they also attribute unto them Of all the cities and townes uot only of this but of all the other Provinces of the Swedish dominions Stackholme is the chiefe and where the King most cōmonly makes his abode and residence seated in an Iland among the waters as Venice for the which cause it had this name imposed By meanes of the lake Melexus it hath brought from the inland al maner of grain butter cheese and such other commodies usefull for the life of man as also cooper yron and other mettals and again by the same way sends them back such cōmodities as are brought from remote regions and by the sea it is supplied with wine oile salt c. lt is much of the same degree of northerly latitude with the city Aberden in the of Scotland it being seated in the South part of Sweden to wit betwixt the 58. and 59. degree Next unto it is Vpsalia somtime the royal seat of the adjacent northerne parts for there was kept the Kings Court the supreme court of justice and there was also the Archbishops sea with a faire cathedrall Church the which onely of all the rest continueth yet untill this day There there is also a famous Vniversity of the which more hereafter This City is seated as it were in the very center of this rich Province on the banke of the River Sala Besides these there are yet in his Province some others of good note howbeit inferiour to the former to wit Enecopia Sigrundia Oregrundia The next Province of Sueonia is Vestmania in fertility nothing inferiour to Vplandia but in mettalls farre exceeding the same for in it is a very rich silver mine called Salbergh as for good yron and steele there is there also great abundance where mines of copper lead and brimstone are not also wanting The chiefe Citty thereof is called Grosia and commonly Westeras adorned with a Bishops sea and a cathedrall Church where is also a faire stately castle to be seene and heere may one see great store of copper and lead brought from the hils of that countrey There are yet besides this the Townes Arbogia and Koping abounding with the same mettalls but yron especially The Province of Dalecharlia although it be not inferiour to the former in the abundance of mettalls and mineralls yet in the abundance of good copper digged out of these deepe vaults and cavernes to the no small amazement of such as are not acquainted with such sights it doth farre exceede any other and besides copper the same myne yeeldeth yet great store of brimstone alum and copperas And the water which is drawne from thence changeth yron into good copper with the losse of the fourth part if the waight of the yron be in small pieces and the third part only if the pieces be

great and thick This countrey yeelds also good store of graine howbeit scarce sufficient to furnish those laborious painefull pioners there being there such a number of them maintained at worke Next unto it is Nericia where although there be a silver myne yet yeelding but small benefit is therefore neglected The mynes of brimstone yeeld also store of alum and copperas It would seeme that all the inhabitants of this countrey are borne naturall Smiths for they send abroad into all the neighbouring countries all manner of yron implements They have but one citty called Orebregia The last is Sudermannia which is neyther destitute of mettalls nor yet of good store of yron especially the parts adjoyning to the great lake Melerus The chiefe city of this countrey is Nycopia a famous port for traficke and with all adorned with a faire castle where the Duke of this countrey most commonly had his abode Next is Strengosia an Episcopall Sea with a Cathedrall Church graced with the dead corps of Charles the 9. of that name and father to the most famous and victorious King great Gustavus now raigning There are yet some other Townes belonging to this teritory to wit Tolga Torsilia and Trosa all very rich and commodious for trafficke and commerce The other part of Sweden is properly called by the name of Northland Of this Northland there are two Provinces Gestricia Helsingia Gestricia had corn enough to supply the inhabitants wanrs and besides is well furnished with yron mynes I hath in it one very good City called Gervalia seated by the Sea-side as well for exporation as importation of all manner of commodities and about halfe a daies journey from the coper mynes By ancient records it appeareth that this Helsingia in former times was a generall name comprehending the rest of the Northern Provinces and the Scanzian Histories doe testifie that this same country in former times was graced with the Title of a kingdome and was governed by Kings until such time as Iugellus King of Vpsalia and father to Olavus Tretelias King of Vermelandia at his coronation burnt to ashes the last Helsingian King with some other moe whose kingdome hee after incorporated to that of Vpsalia Many other things concerning the antiquity and valour of this Nation for brevity I purposely let passe Among all the Swedish people these are most remarkable for their great hospitality and besides they are so affectionate to learning that although publike Schooles for good literature be but rare among them yet are private persons who have attained to any learning so forward to instruct their neighbours that it is a hard matter to find one going at plough but hee can read The inhabitants of his country are either Helsingia properly so call'd or Laplanders Of the Helsingians then the Provinces or these Helsingians properly so called Medelpadia Angermania and Bothnia This Hesingia properly so called was formerly caled Sundhede and Nordslegh The soyle of this country is fruit full enough and the inhabitants much addicted to grazing of cattle and many of them are very industrious in making of linnen cloth and not unskilfull in many other manuall trades some being also addicted to fishing It containeth one good city Hudinswaldia whose inhabitants transport into other countries great store of butter tallow hides and skins pitch and rozen masts for ships clap-boord and the like Medelpadia is much of the same nature quality with Helsingia but that it is somewhat narrow and fuller of woods It is furnished with Z good rivers well stor'd with exceeding good fish as Salmons especially and it is supposed that in former times the Helsingian Kings kept their Court in this Countrey Angermannia although it be full of high and steepe rockes yet are the vallies so fruitfull that if but once in ten yeeres compassed they bring forth every yeere exceeding good corne if the unseasonablnesse of the weather doe not sometimes frustrate the husband-mans expectation It is as it were divided into two armes the one more southerly running towards the West the other towards the Sea and further to the North. It is watered with one faire river abounding with divers forts of good fishes Salmons especially there is in it also one faire city Bothnia is not so hilly as this Angermannia and yet by reason of the sandy soyle and the coldnesse of the climat the countrey is not so fruitfull as the former which defect notwithstanding is well supplyed with the abundance of other commodities It is very well watered with divers great rivers abounding with very good fish Salmons especially It hath in it no city howbeit every Parish is as it were at towne of trafficke and commerce for in sommer they provide store of corne and such other commodities as their neighbour Leplanders want which they buy of such as trafficke into their countrey which commodities in the winter they carry into Lapland where all rivers and rivers and lakes are hard frozen and bring again backe from thence great abundance of rich furres fishes dryed and hardened with the frost and many the like commodities Next followes Lapponia or Lappia called commonly Lapland and the inhabitants Lappones Laplanders This is the northermost Province belonging to this potent Prince a large and vast countrey but hath neyther corne-fields cities nor townes The countrey is full of hills woods rivers lakes and pooles and in many places very good pastures The people are ingenious enough and civill living most by hunting and fishing They live like unto the Tartars travelling in great troupes together with their cattell and settle about some river or lake where there is good pasture for their cattell and when that is all eaten up remove to another place Adultery and murther is scarce heard of among that people nor yet any theft and merchants travelling that way ordinarily leave their wares covered onely with some old cloth to keepe off the snow and after divers daies at their returne never misse any of their goods Their appearrell is made of skinnes of beasts and wollen cloth brought to them from other countries as for linnen cloth they have none but to sew their clothes they make thred of the nerves of sinewes of beasts dryed beaten and dressed like flaxe with the which they both sew their garments cover the same also with tinne as we doe wtih silver and so adorne their garments therewith as we doe with silver and gold lace In former times they were much addicted to sorcery and witchcraft howbeit that is now well reformed In stead of houses they use tents made of the barke of birch sowed together In the winter time they meete togther at certaine places and faile not where both these aforementioned merchants find them to trafficke with the Kings customers to demand their tribute and the Churchmen were wont to come to catechize them

neyther have they any word beginning with two consonants and therefore when they pronounce any such word in other languages they leave out such letters and for this cause if they be not sent abroad while they are yet young they can never learne to pronounce forreigne languages and thus for gratus they pronounce ratus for spes pes for Dominus tominus for bonus ponus c. And this is the reason why the Nobles Merchants and others of ability send their youth to be instructed in the Swedish tongue by which meanes they are afterwards fitted for the learning of any other Againe in their language they observe no genders having one onely articles se which they attribute to both sexes and to all genders Some others for brevity I here willingly passe by These Finlanders in former times had Kings of their owne nation great warres with the Swedish untill such time as being by Ericus King of Sweden subdued in the yeere 1130. they were also forced to embrace the Christian faith Now this King subdued not the whole countrey but afterwards Birgerus Ieri subdued Tavastia and againe Turgillus subdued Runts or Carelia and about the yeere 1193. the better to keepe them in obedience and withall to inhibit the incursions of the Russians hee built the castle Viburg Finland is divided into the South North Caiania Savolaxia Tavastia Nylandia and Carlia The Northerne part is divided from the Southerne by the river Amarokei running hard by the Episcopall sea Abo. In the Westerne part thereof is that old castle Gust● now ruinated in the East part the castle Raseberg together with the Jurisdiction thereto belonging The Northerne part thereof extends it selfe towards the Bothnicke gulfe Nothward comprehending the one and the other Salagundia Vienio and Maseo In it is a famous river called Cumo-elffe abounding with Salmons and many other dainty fishes and neere the Episcopal City Biornebegh falling into the Sea Betwixt this city and Abo are the townes Raumo Nystadh and Nadhandill where was of old that famous Monastery called the valley of grace Caiania called also the Easterne Bothnia is furnished with many goodly fishie rivers It hath lately built there in the towns Vla and Vasa as also the castles Caianoburgum and Vloburgum Sauolaxia abounds with goodly lakes an rivers and almost all of them disburden themselves by the river Vox into that great lake Ladoga This lake Togetha together with these rivers among all the rest of this Scanzian country doe onely breed the seacalfe called Phoca and Vitulus Marinus They are likewise furnished with abundance of other good fishes and among others great Iackes and Pikes which are from thence being first dryed with the frost in great abundance transported to Viburgum In it is also a very faire strong castle built in the yeere 1475. by one Ericus Axelson Master of the Kings houshold and by him called Saint Olauus castle Tavastia is a mediterranean countrey and in it that famous and renowned lake Peiende The srong castle of Tavastia was built by Bergerus Ieri to curbe and keepe under these Tavastians by him newly conquered and subjugated under the Crowne of Sweden having withall compelled them to embrace the Christian religion In the North parts of this countrey the inhabitants fish out of the bottomes of their lakes a certaine rude matter which with small labour and paines and as little charges they make very good yron and very serviceable for mans use Nylandia not that it was so called as though in former times it had beene without any inhabitants but by reason that those who doe now inhabite the same in comparison of other were but newly come thither for the Helsingians and other people of Sweden sent thither their colonies The countrey is fruitful enough and well furnished with store of fish fowle wild beasts for hunting It hath in it two townes Borgo and Hefingfors Carelia is a large and vast Region and seemeth that the old inhabitants lived most by their sheepe and cattell for Curia in their language signifieth sheepe or cattell So long as the Finlanders had a King of their owne nation over them all this countrey of Carelia belonged to Finland but since the Swedish did so much by warre annoy the inhabitants that by little and little they brought many of the Provinces of that country to become tributary to them the Russians much suspecting the power arising of so potent a neighbouring Prince thought in time to anticipate his enemies designes for the which cause this Russian Prince by force of armes made himselfe Master of this whole countrey And this same country was for many yeeres after the common theater of warre betwixt those two potent Princes of Sweden and Russia and that for a long tract of time with various and doubtfull event sometimes the one and sometimes again the other party prevailing untill such time as Magnus surnamed Smek King of Sweden and George Duke of Novogardia divided it equally betwixt them setting appointing their limits and bounds in Systerbecke Now how it came wholly within these few yeeres under the crowne of Sweden shall hereafter in its proper place appeare In this Carelia is that strong city Wiburg a famous staple or mart towne for merchants exceeding well fortified with strong walls and deepe large motes round about and a strong castle in the same This same City have the Russians often but in vaine besieged with 100000. armed men Rexholmia by the Swedish corruptly so called and by the Russians Carologorod or the fort or fortresse of Carelia is seated very strongly in two little Ilands at the mouth of the river Wexen in the one of which is seated the city and in the other the castle The soyle is very fruitfull especially such places as adjoyne next unto the great lake Ladesco Ozera but 15. or 20. miles further from the lake it is so marshie and fenny that the mountainous and hilly parts thereof will onely beare come for the which cause the inhabitants there live most vpon fish and wild beasts and this aforementioned lake is one of the greatest of all Europe as being above 190. miles in length and about 80. in breadth and of this lake about the fifth part onely belongs to the Russian Prince and all the rest to the Crowne of Sweden In this great lake besides the great abundance of Salmons and other fishes there is there caught a little fish also little bigger then a hering and in their language called Ladog no where else in all Russia but there to be found from whence this lake takes the denomination In the countrey of Rexholme are some rubies found Next Carelia followes both in the order of nature and situation the countrey called Ingria which was but lately annexed to the Crowne of Sweden The soile is very fruitful in the which are many rivers full of good wholesome fish

Besides in that country is great store of wild fowle and wild beasts of severall kinds and among these they hunt most that wilde beast in Latin called Alce in the Swedish language Elgh and in high Dutch Elent These beasts twice a yeere in great troopes passe over the river Nieva for in the spring they passe in great number out of Russia into Carelia and in harvest againe returne the same way into Russia This countrey hath in it many strong forts and castles which have hitherto beene accounted the keyes of the Russian kingdome and no other in all his dominions with them to be compared Notteburg is the chiefest and strongest hold of all the rest and therefore held impregnable howbeit at length taken in by the victorious King now reigning as hereafter shall appeare In the same country are also Capurio Iamarod Castles not onely strong by nature but very well furnished also by the art of man The last of all the Provinces belonging to this Crowne and Kingdome of Sweden is called Esthonia being a part of that vast countrey called Livonia and hath not beene vnder the Swedish gouernment above 60 and odde yeeres and by this meanes came first under that iurisdiction Certaine Nobles who tooke upon them to propagate the Christian religion being sent for into Livonia forgetting the errand they came about gave themselves wholly over to carnall lust and gluttonie and drunkennesse and withall keeping the inhabitants in such a base and slauish subiection that they seemed rather to command ouer beasts then men And for this cause God the auenger of all wrongs and punisher of all wickednesse stirred vp Basilius the tyrant of Muscovia to suppresse their insolencie and punish their pride who subdued a great part of Livonia destroying all in their way that made resistance with fire and sword These poore Livonians now perceiuing themselves pu● to such a strait implored the ayde of the Emperour Charles the 5. keeping then a dyet or generall meeting of the whole estates of the Empire at Ausbourg 1551. this countrey then being a member of the Empire The Emperour then distracted with other warres not being able to send them any succour wished them to seeke for succour and and ayde of the king of Sweden and other neighbouring Princes The Revalians therefore and the Osclians demand ayde of the king of Denmarke Revalia being heretofore built by Valdemarus a King of Denmarke and from him received their priviledges howbeit to no end And therefore finding no sudden succour against so mighty and potent a Prince they were constrained to implore ayde of Ericus 14. king of Sweden and therefore in the yere 1561. freely submitted themselves under his obedience which petition of theirs notwithstanding his father Gustavus had in his life time denied and therefore some are of opinion that this king Ericus brought vpon himselfe and successours a great deale of trouble His sonne Iohn was as wel successour to this quarrell as to the kingdome and tooke from the Russian many of his strong holds The Provinces of this countrey of Esthionia are Revalia towards the North seated neere vnto the Finnicke gulfe vizia in which are these places Refenburgh Tolsburgh and Borholme Alentakia where is that famous merchant staple Naruia and Nystot ●erviai where is Wittensleyn and Lais and Vickia where are Hapsal Lebal and Lode And to this Esthionia belong these Islands also Dagho Orinso Nuko VVrango Odensholme Nargo Vifso and the one and other Nogho the inhabitants of which places as also of Osilea and most of the maritime parts of the continent speake the Swedish language In this great countrey of Livonia besides the Swedish there are yet foure other seuerall languages spoken the German or high Dutch vsed by the Nobles and better sort in the North-parts towards the Finnicke gulfe the Estthionian or Finnicke in the mediterranean parts the Livonians being now almost quite worne out and finally in the South parts thereof they vse the Letticke speech or of the countrey of Lettow which the people Eureles likewise vse the which is as it were a hodge-podge of many severall languages mingle together And these languages differ not onely in dialects but wholly and totally one from another This whole countrey of Livonia and consequently this Esthionia abound with all such things as are necessary for the life of man and are vsually to be found in these Northerne climats And so much shall suffice shortly to haue said concerning the description of the countrey of Sweden and Provinces subiect to the Swedish crowne CHAP. III. Of the nature manners and customes of the Suecians or Swedish and into how many rankes or degrees all these people are diuided THis people is reasonable wittie and vnderstanding and that not onely for learning and vnderstanding of any mechanicall trade but eve for the learning of the arts and sciences as also any outlandish tongues whatsoeuer For such as are of any eminent ranke and degree or competent meanes content not themselves with their Latine tongue and knowledge of the liberall arts but give themselves also very much to the learning of the Germane or high Dutch French tongues In former times their maners conditions were very plaine and homely and although now somewhat declining from former simplicitie yet are they farre from that height of luxurie and pride whereunto many other nations are now so much addicted The apparell of the vulgar sort is but meant but the Gentilitie are now somewhat given to follow outlandish fashions and to emulate their equalls Private mens houses as well in townes as the countrey are for the most part built low and of wood and that both for warmth and for avoyding the dint of great winds In Stocke-holme notwithstanding and some other walled Cities and townes most of their buildings are either of bricke or free-stone The countrey commonly yeelds plentie of good corne and might yeeld more if some of those vast unprofitable woods were cut downe howbeit there is there seldome felt any scarcitie of corne unlesse sometimes the yeare proue very unseasonable which in hotter climats commeth also sometimes to passe and in such a case the countrey-people are sometimes forced to make bread of the barke of the firre and pine-trees which they esteeme very wholesome agreeing well with their stomacks and free from any maligne qualitie Fish and flesh is here very plentifull howbeit neither in great request fresh but either salted up or dryed in the sunne or smoke They are also well stored with venison as also with wild fowle such especially as are accounted the daintiest The coniugall bed is among them kept undefiled and inviolable Their maides are not there maried without consent of parents or guardians neither yet is it lawfull for any man to betroth or marry such a maide without the presence of 4 witnesses two of the part of the bridegrome and as many on the brides side a

penaltie of fourtie markes to bee imposed upon the partie that infringes this decree VVhen a maide is thus betrothed the guardian may not obiect any thing to hinder the marriage except it be very lawfull and by the lawes of the land determined to be such if he shall chance to doe otherwise the bridegroome may lawfully breake open the doores and carry her away by force if he cannot otherwise and if there should by this meanes either death or wounds ensue no punishment shall be inflicted for wounds or death of the resisting partie But if the other partie that is about to recouer his spoue s be either wounded or killed the punishment of such a resisting person shall be double and the woman shall be esteemed lawfully rescued and not ravished and taken by force Againe these be the words of the law-maker Whosoeuer departs from his wife and makes a contract and agreement to cohabite with another woman the other wife to him before lawfully married being yet alive and this be by sufficient witnesses legally prooved they shall both lose their lives the man being beheaded and the woman stoned to death VVhen as either man or woman dyes leaving children behind him whether sonnes or daughters they shall succeed in the inheritance the sonne shall have two and the daughter one part for her share and the nephew shall have the like share as a sonne and the neece as a daughter whether their children live or dye but withall the fifth degree is here excluded from succession If any person dye whose next heire is without the Realme if the heire returne within a yeare and a night with sufficient proofe that he is lawfull heire to the deceased partie he shall as lawfull heire succeed to the partie deceased But if he come not within a yeare and a night the king shall be his heire whether the goods bee moveable or unmoveable and this is commonly called Dana-arf If the goods given to any be not moveable let him receive them againe that gave them If any native of the country dye and the heire be knowne t●●●●heritance shall be kept for the right heire but if it be not knowne who is the right heire and no word be sent from him or else some other assurance where he is or that he come not within a yeere and a day then the Kings exchequer shall receive the one halfe of his estate and the other halfe was formerly to be employed for praying for his soule but since the reformation of Religion converted to other charitable uses This people not onely of late but even of old hath been much commended for their great hospitalitie in entertaining strangers the which as it is common to all these Northerne people so is it most conspicuous in the Swedish nation it being esteemed there a hainous indignitie to deny entertainment to strangers and travellers there being among them certain particular constitutions concerning this same particular Besides they are of that sinceritie of life and conversation and so far from wronging others that this hath caused no smal admiration to strangers and travellers passing that way which may in this appeare that although there be very great forrests found in that countrey yet seldome any robberies by the high wayes are amongst them heard of In-ancient times both the Swedish and the Goths had their owne proper letters and language howbeit their letters have beene by the first founders of Christianitie in these parts quite abolished and Latine letters put in their places And of this some render this reason that among these people were many bookes full of their ancient heathenish superstition which superstition of theirs they thought would hardly bee quite rooted out vnlesse as well their letters as books written with those letters were utterly abolished But by this meanes it is to bee supposed that we are likewise deprived of many ancient acts and antiquities not unworthy the knowing which are by this meanes buried in eternall oblivion And of this prerogative beyond all other people of Europe the Grecians excepted doth this nation bragge that they never borrowed their letters of any other nation And it is thought that if their letters and bookes had vntill this time continued they might have contested for antiquity with the most famous histories either Greeke or Latine And therefore above all other nations the Goths were most admired for their opinion concerning the immortality of the soule concerning which opinion although there bee left no ancient records yea and if there were no testimonie of strangers to witnesse the same yet may this by many monuments even untill this day remaining plainly appeare the which are written upon great grave-stones in this same ancient character of Rumcke letters as the author speakes for in them were commonly added towards the latter end of the inscription these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is God helpe the soule of such a one But as it hath fared with many other ancient nations that in continuance of time they have altered their ancient language so hath this nation tasted likewise of the same alteration change For by reason of their commerce and trafficke with their neighbours the high Dutch they have also borrowed much of their language and mingled it with their owne as may by many arguments appeare and the better sort addict themselves to learne this language in perfection The like hath also befallen many other nations of the Christian world The Italian what is it else but a bastard composed of that pure elegant Latine spoken in Tullies time and the rude languages of these barbarous nations Goths Vandals and Longaburds like an inundation in the declining of the Romane Empire overflowing all Italy What the Spanish tongue but the same Latine mingled with the ancient Gothish and some others And the moderne French tongue so idolised of every one is but the ancient Gaules the ancient inhabitants of that countrey lan-language enterlarded with many Latine words Now that this people is a great lover of learning and letters may from hence appeare that even at this day the very countrey people and shepheards have engraven upon their great staves and shepheards crooks all the principal matters set downe in our ordinary almanacks in their ancient Gothicke letters by which means they are able to understand the change and other times of the moone bissextile or leape yeare the golden number dominicall letters and the like concerning this subiect The subiects of all the dominion of Sweden are divided into sixe rankes or degrees differing in eminency and dignity each one from the other the Princes of the bloud the Nobles and Gentrie the ecclesiasticall estate souldiers or martiall men the merchants and husbandmen or labourers of the ground The Princes of the bloud are commonly the Kings sonnes or brothers The Kings eldest son doth now according to the custome usually succeed and the others

are called Dukes and livings answerable to their birth and greatnesse assigned them The daughters have portions assigned them yet not out of the Kings treasure but of the subiects purses And although the Kingdome be now become hereditary yet doe the Kings alwayes sweare to maintaine religion according to the Augustane confession The Nobilitie is divided into Earles Barons Knights Squires and ordinary Gentry The Earles were of old called Ieri and were by their Kings created as likewise Dukes called Hertzogh for their singular valor worth but none of those titles were hereditary or descended to posterity And by reason those great men had often in rebellion opposed themselves against their naturall Kings therefore for divers yeeres these titles were quite omitted vntill such time as Ericus 14. in imitation of other Kings and Potentates introduced again these titles of Earles and Barons and made them hereditary to posterity As for Knights they ever were as now they are also made for their worth and proofe vpon the atchieving of some noble exploits and descend not to posterity unlesse they succeed in their predecessours vertues and valour As for the other Gentry the chiefest of them are those we commonly call Squires and of old were called aff-wapu Out of these rankes of Nobility above mentioned are elected and chosen the supreme ministers and officers of iudicature and other great employments of the Kingdome and for this cause have great maintenance allowed them As for the clergie and state ecclesiasticall it is composed of these persons following first is the Archbishop of Vpsalia together with seueh other Bishops and besides these there are yet foure superintendents who although in name they differ from the former yet in nature function little or nothing and this last is most commonly the highest title among the Protestant Churches beyond the seas as well Lutherans or others So these Bishops and I superintendents were adioyned the Canons Prebends c. and under them Ministers and Preachers of euery Parish The Bishops in former times were possessors of many strong holds and Castles and great livings and were exceeding rich by reason whereof they were able to live like great Princes as at this day in Germany and other places is to be seen by this means they became so haughty and insolent that sometimes they waged war with their owne natural Princes sometimes expelling them out of their kingdome For this cause Gustavus the 1. of that name lest the like should befall himselfe or his successours assembled the whole estates of his kingdome to take counsell against the Bishops then making preparation for an open rebellion and by their advice and consent annexed unto the Crowne their lands and possessions together with all their strong holds and Castles reserving for these ecclesiasticall persons some part as well of the tythes as other revenues to be for them a fit and competent maintenance In former time these Bishops had place among the chiefe Senatours and counsellours of the kingdome and the Archbishop of Vpsalia and sometimes also the Bishop of Lincopia assumed unto themselves the title of Primate of the whole Kingdome for the which cause in those dayes this dignity was by great Nobles sued for but since this Kingdome made profession of the reformed Religion the clergie of highest title meddle only with Church-affaires and now mens sonnes of the meanest degree and birth merchants or husbandmens are admitted unto such functions And yet this priviledge they still enioy that in every parliament they have a voice as well as any of the Nobility or others Next follow the military forces as well horse as foot which notwithstanding consist not of forreine mercenary forces For the foot forces are culled and pickt out from among the choicest youth of the kingdome by decimation or taking every tenth man After they are once enrolled they are not onely freed from all subsidies impositions or other payments whatsoever but have also a yeerely stipend allowed them of the king who causeth certaine commanders for this same purpose appointed being first furnished with all manner of weapons for certaine yeares to traine them vp at home in the meane time enuring them to endure all manner of hardship and such toyle and labour as sould eours are wonted in war to endure while in the mean time the old bands if need so require be emploied in forreine expeditions And thus if commeth to passe that although the King carry never so great an army out of the countrey against a forreine enemy yet is the kingdome never left unfurnished of sufficient defence ready to serve upon all occasions and by this meanes there is the lesse use of mercenary souldiers unlesse upon urgent and extraordinary occasion as now in this great and memorable expedition against the Austrian house and the whole Catholike league It need not therefore seeme strange that this great King hath even in our memories waged war alone and the same time against all his three potent neighbours the king of Poland of Denmarke and the great Prince or Duke of Russia For whensoever his forces are either wearied or worne out he is able presently to exchange with a new supply who being already inured to hardship and military labor and toile are able to undergoe any difficulty whatsoever Their horse-forces are raised both from among the Gentrie and the common people The Nobles according to the greatnesse of their Lordships and lands maintaine many horsemen for the defence of the countrey and besides these the commons of every Province possessing rich Manors or Farmes to free themselves from all tributes and taxes maintaine according to their meanes certaine horsemen under the command of the Captaine of that place where hee liveth The fifth degree ranke or order is of merchants inhabiting cities and townes These both bring in and carry out of the kingdome divers merchandizabte commodities bought first of the naturall inhabitants from whence they gather no small gaine Now these cities and merchant staples have among them certaine peculiar municipal lawes and constitutions derived from the law of the most ancient city Bitia the which about 600. yeeres ago was the seat Royal where the King kept his Court and the chiefe staple of of the whole kingdome Each of these cities and townes enioyeth also certaine particular priviledges and very laudable constitutions by which it was ordained and determined after what manner the mediterranean cities should trafficke and trade with the inhabitants and maritime to the end that each place might bee an indifferent sharer in the gaine and besides this laudable constitution was also enacted that the benefit gaine or rising of one City should not prove the ruine of another But these laudable lawes and wholesome constitutions by reason of so many wars and broyles wherewith this kingdome hath so often beene troubled have beene by the governours of this kingdome now for a long time neglected and by this

Brandenburg one of the Princes Electors of the sacred Empire who although she bare him some children yet lived they not long In the yeare 1624. she bare him a daughter 1. Christina but dyed the same yeare The next yeare after she bare him againe another daughter called also 2. Christina yet living and in the yeare 1627 she was in a Parliament then holden at Stockeholme declared here apparent to the crowne of Sweden It hath been a little before related how his father Charles the ninth of that name died during his warre with Denmarke and withall hath beene shewed how at the same time the same Prince had hot warre with the Prince of Russia by which may easily appeare into what a labyrinth of troubles was this young king at his first comming to the crowne involved In both these warres he carryed his affaires so well that thorow the helpe of Almighty God he hath procured himselfe ever since a firme and inviolable peace with that great Prince He had with the Dane divers conflicts yet alwayes demeaned himselfe so worthily that he came off with great honour and credit so that at length that great king seeing hee had to meddle with his match was willing to accoodate his Martiall thoughts to entertaine at treatie of peace and so these two great Princes of mortall enemies became loving and kind friends and have since confirmed a strait league of amity and friendship As for the Russian Prince he had with him yet some greater difficulty to undergoe there resting some strong and almost impregnable places to be taken and the evidences concerning such territories as the Russian had for good consideration assigned his father to bee recovered Amd although my purpose bee not particularly to enlarge my selfe upon all the severall occurrances of this warre yet are there in the same some things to be obseraed not unworthy the readers consideration whereof I will give but a touch After his fathers decease then having setled the affaires of his kingdome at home although he had to deale with so potent an enemie as the king of Denmarke as hath beene said already yet did he not neglect this warre against the Russian and for this purpose prepared a great army to prosecute that which his father had left unfinished Now it is to bee understood that these forts and places hee tooke in from the Russian Prince are the strongest holds and as it were the very keyes of all the Russian dominion That countrey is corruptly called Rexholme from a strong City and Castle seated in two little Ilands in the mouth of the river Woxen in the one of which the Castle and in the other the City is seated although the right name of this countrey among Historians be knowne by the name Carelia But among all these strong holds castles none is to be compared with the strong fort Notteburg which hath therefore hitherto ever beene holden invincible untill now of late experience hath taught us the contrary It is built in a little Iland in the mouth of the swift river Nerva and by reason of the breadth of the river could not be battered with ordnance This strong cattle therefore being of so great importance was never unfurnished But the great God of heaven who according to his good will and pleasure disposes of all these sublunary things and infatuates the wisedome of the wise delivered this inuincible fort into the hands of an invincible Prince a presage no doubt of his future great and glorious victories But the manner is yet more admirable for within the souldiers were not unfurnished of sufficient foode and the enemies force as said is they needed not much to feare but within their mouthes and throats there grew so many great warts that although they had food sufficient yet could they not feed on the same nor yet swallow down any sustenance for the which cause they were forced to surrender this strong fort into his maiesties hands And so he that made the walls of Iericho at the found of a rammes horne to fall downe to make a way for his owne people of Israel to enter this City found out this way to take in this invincible fort And whosoever sees not the same providence accompanying prospering him in this so great a warre now undertaken against the whole power of the Austrian house and the Catholick league I thinke is more then pur-blind There is in that same countrey another strong Castle Iuanogorod seated on the top of a high rocke in an Isthmus or narrow plaine a great part thereof being environed with this swift river And although on the west side as it looketh towards the river it might be batered yet both that way as likewise both the south and north parts were well defended by this river and on the east there was a low valley digged by natures owne industry where the people had their habitation the countrey about being plain and levell and so high that the ordnance could touch onely the tops of the turrets and goe no lower Neither yet was there any undermining by reason or that soile which was altogether rockie This fort notwithstanding together with the former 2. and many more were by this same king taken in the yeare 1617 in so much that this great Prince was then put in no small feare of loosing all or the greater part of his dominion whereof there was then no small danger Wherefore the great Knezor or Duke Michael Feodorouitz sonne to the former perfidious Iuani Vasilienitz Suski earnestly suing for peace it was at length by the mediation of king Iames of famous memory effected and in the yeare 1618. fully finished and agreed upon And thus were those aforementioned townes and forts and divers others belonging to this Carelia Ruthenica or countrey of Rexholme together with all the deeds and evidences thereunto pertaining resigned over and delivered into to the hands of this king and for ever annexed unto the Crowne of Sweden and all other places during this warre taken from the Russian againe to him restored as in the articles of agreement in 18. more at length is to be seene Neither was this king then part 21. yeares of age when he had brought to a happy end two so great and important warres Now after this happy and peaceable conclusion having established peace in al his Prouinces he gave not himself over to his lustfull pleasures as is often too customary with young Princes nor to drowne himselfe with sinnefull delights but gane himselfe wholly to beautifie and adorne this peaceable kingdome whereof shee was now fully possessed which could no better be effected then by confirming the ancient good and wholesome lawes and constitutions of the kingdome adding some others as occasion required And therefore as was already touched he not onely reinforced the former lawes and constitutions concerning trafficke and commerce betwixt the sea townes but added also divers others tending to that same

lands and possessions but of his electorate dignity also contrary to the Emperours expectation turning his power against himselfe forces him not onely to a restitution of the captives but likewise to a setled peace and liberty of religion within the whole Germane countryes and so it did here plainely appeare how God brought light out of darknes The Iesuites the incendiaries of the Christian world envying the peace and prosperitie of the same as in other parts so in this countrey of Germany have they laboured to overthrow and subvert both the State of the true reformed Church and common-wealth And although they have been a long time proiecting such a plot yet could it not so conveniently be brought about untill such time as Fredericke primus Palatine Elector having accepted of the Bohemian Crowne being freely and lawfully thereunto elected this viperous generation being of a martiall breed failed not to lay hold on such an offered opportunitie and therefore cease not to incense and stirre up the Emperor Ferdinand the 2. of himselfe sensible enough of any thing that might but in shew derogate from the dignity of the Austrian house to prosecute that which before had been proiected And thus was this Noble Prince deprived not onely of his kingdome of Bohemia but of all his hereditary dominions and electorate dignitie And whereas many ignorant of the Iesuites farre fetched secret stratagems did verily beleeve that now they were attained to the utmost end they aimed at it appeared farre otherwise For now the fire that so long lay covered under the ashes breakes foorth and sets upon a sudden all these flourishing provinces of Germany on fire and the visard now remooved their purpose was made manifest to the blindest eye-sight to wit the totall ruine and overthrow of the true religion in many yea in most places of Germany professed the reducing of them againe to the Romish superstition and utter overthrow of the liberties of the Romane Empire whose designes whosoever in defence of Gods cause and liberties of their owne countrey did any way oppose have been in most barbarous manner prosecuted and persecuted with fire and sword and many forced to forsake their ancient inheritances to save their lives and keepe a good conscience in still professing that religion wherein they had heretofore beene brought up Others againe more pusillanimous and loath to loose all for Christ yet besides a shameful and perfidious abiuration of that truth which before they had professed were yet notwithstanding forced to yeeld to such slavish and servile conditions as the insolency of a victorious enemy was pleased to impose upon them When this tyranny had now at least for the space of tenne yeares beene after a rigid manner prosecuted it pleased Almighty God of his infinite goodnesse all other meanes now failing in pitty and compassion to his poore afflicted Church now destitute of the least appearance of any humane helpe to raise up meanes of deliverance where I am sure it was least expected euen that illustrious and victorious king of Sweden Captaine of the Lords host Gustavus Adolphus King of the Swethens Goths and Vandals arriued in Pomer in February An. 1630. and landed neere unto the Isles of Rugen and Vsdome at a little village called Pennemund with no more at the first then 6000 souldiers Himself comming on shoare falls downe and powres out this vnto God O Lord thou that rulest ouer the Heauens the earth and the vast sea I cannot sufficiently giue thee thanks that thou hast preserued me so graciously in this perillous iourney O Lord I render thanks vnto thee and giue praise vnto thee from the very bottome of my heart beseeching thee seeing thou knowest that this voyage my purpose and intent tends not to my owne but onely to they glory and honour and for the comfort and helpe of thy afflicted Church that if now the time and appointed houre become Assist me further with thy grace and blessing grant are a prosperous wind and good weather that I may behold the rest of my Army with a ioyfull eye which I haue left behind me picked vp out of diuers nations to the end that with them I may aduance forward thy holy worke-Amen The Kings Officers and Councell stepping on land after him and hearing such a zealous prayer comming from him in this manner could not forbeare weeping which the King perceiuing said vnto them Weepe not my friends but pray feruently from the bottome of your hearts the more yee pray the more victory God will giue you for earnest prayer is more then the gaining of halfe a battle It seemes since that time that the Kings prayer hath auailed much with God and how mightily the Lord hath been with him in taking in many countries cities and townes in ouerthrowing the Emperours inuincible Army and that of the Catholike League and the mighty increasing of his Armie since his first landing Other particulars may giue satisfaction to the Reader to God the onely author and giuer of them be giuen immortall praise Amen FINIS Division of the Northern world Antiqnity of the kingdome of Sweden Sueonia Suevia Division of the Kingdome of Sweden Sueovia and the parts thereof Vplandia Conmedities of this countrey Mines in this countrey Division of Vplandia Stockholme Vpsalia Vestmania Rich Mines Dalecharlia A profitable water Nericia Sndermannia Nycopia Strengosia Tolga Torsilia Trosa Northland Gestricia Gerralia Helsingia sometimes a kingdome Helsingian an ancient people Affectionate to learning Helsingia properly so called Hudinswaldia Medelpadia Angermannia Fertility of the soyle Bothnia Lappionia or Lappi● Their manner of life Their innocencie Their apparell Strange thred Their tents Their tents The meetings Nature of the people Good soldiers Diamonds Topazes and Amethists among them Diuision of this countrey Gothia Division of this country Vestrgothia Citties Townes Dalia Vermelandia Carolostadium Ostrogothia Fertility of the soyle Smalandia Good pastures Mines of copper and steele Division of this country Olandia Occasion of warres betwixt the two neighbouring Princes Finlandia VVhy so called Nature of this people Singularities in their languagess When and by whom first subdued Division of the country Cities towns and castles Caiania Townes Savolaxia Lake I-adoga Sea Calse Nystat Tavas●ia Nystat or New-castle Yron made of water Nylandi Townes VViburg Rexholmia Greatest lake of all Europe A peculiar fish Rubies Ingria Alce Elgh or Elent Notteburg Capurio Iamarod Esthonia How it came first under the Swedish Crowne Provinces of this countrey Five severall languages in Livonia Nature of the inhabitants Not so vicious as many other Nations Apparell of this people Their buildings Woodshere very frequent Bread of the barke of trees Adultery there vnknowne Manner of their marriage and betrothing Manner of succeeding in inheritances If the heire be absent Dana arf If the heire be 〈◊〉 owne Their hospitality Robberies seldome heard of among this people Gothish letters abolished The Swedish much addicted to the high Dutch speech Italian language The Spanish French Gothe louers of learning Sixe rankes o● degrees of the Swedish nation Princes of the bloods The Nobility Their titles were not hereditary When made hereditary The clergie or persons ecclesiasticall Bishops lived like Princes in Sweden The military forces The trained ●ands whereof consist the foot forcet The horse forces and how raised Merchants Certain lawes and constitutions have been appointed for traffick and commerce Husbandmen Free-holders Werkers in the Mynes Farmers They have a voice in Parliament Antiquities of the Vestrogothian lawes The whole government of this Kingdome comprehended in certaine societies or colledges a Colledges or societie of Iustice 2 Colledge or societie is that of warre or court Marshall 3 Colledge the court of the Chancery The Lord Chancellours office Colledge me Admirall court 5 Colledge is the Exchequer The Lord Marshals office Particular division of the Provinces into smaller parts Severall Iudges The supreame Iudge Legifer Iudicium praetoriale The Ral or Court Royal. Iustice heire of Scotland Sea forces Number of Ships 〈…〉 Mariness and Sailers His land forces The horse not bigge in bulke This king hireth commonly his horsemen Customes threefold Customes arising from his mynes Great number of brasse Ordnance Customes revenues arifing from the fruits of the earth Customes of all manner of merchandise Customes of furres and rich skins The third fort of custome or revenue arbitrary or voluntary contributions 1 King Magog 2 Swennus 3 Getbar 4 Vbbo 40 Ericus the 3. 41 Goodrichus 42 Haldanus 100 Biorno 124 Ericus Sanctus 4. 125 Charles● 126 Canutus 127 Stercherus 128 Ericus 3. 129 Iohn 1. 130 Ericus Balbus 131 Valdemarus 132 Magnus Ladolos 1. 133 Birgerus 134. Magnus Smech 135. Albert of Meckleburge 136 Margaret the Dane 137 Ericus Duke of Pomerania 7. 138 Christopherus Prince Palatine of Rhene and Duke of Bavaria 139. Carolus Canuti 140. Steno Sture 141 Suanto 142 Steno Sture 2 Something concerning the title the kings of Denmarke pretend to the crowne and kingdome of Sweden Christierne the 2 invades the countrey of Sweden A great ingratitude Extreame barbarous crueltie More then ●nhumane crueltie 143 Gustavus Erickson 1. Reformation of religion in the kingdome of Swedea An. 6560 141 Ericus 8. 145 Iohn 2. 146 Sigismundus The oath of Sigismund Abdication of king Sigismund An act against the accepting of a forreine kingdome unlesse he refine himselfe in Sweden His warres against Denmarke and Russia 148 Gustavus Adolphus 2. His war with the king of Denmarke His war with the Russian Prince The countrey of Carelia corruptly called Reaholme taken in The invincible force of Notteburg The strange manner of taking in the Castle of Noneburg The taking in of the strong fort Iuanogorod Confirmation of the ancient lawes concerning trafficke and commerce betwixt the sea townes The Vniversitie of Vpsalia is by him much enriched and adorned Albert killed Another Albert Emperour Wonderfull greatnes of the house of Austria Charlet the attempted the overthrow of true religion together with the Germans liberty